This week I turn 60 years old. Those 60 years have gone ridiculously fast, except when I’m waiting for water to boil. It’s been a fast-forward movie with memories and images floating around in my head. I’m profoundly grateful for this life of mine. I’m especially grateful to be turning another year older. I’ll never regret getting older in that the alternative isn’t what I’m looking for right now.

I have a vivid memory of finding out I was pregnant with my third child. I was told that I couldn’t have any more children, which happily was incorrect. I was 37 years old at the time, and in that moment I calculated how old I would be when my son graduated from college. It was 60 years old. That sounded ancient at the time and so very far away. And yet, this week that wonderful baby graduates from college and I turn 60. Celebratory milestones for sure.

Each birthday is a beautiful opportunity to take stock of our lives, to look back and to look forward. I used to look back with some regrets. The “I wish I would have . . .” type of regrets. I don’t do that any longer because I now see that each and every situation in my life has led to this moment and I wouldn’t change this moment for anything in the world. Now I look forward and I love to make plans for the future. I also work on living in the moment. Life changes so quickly, certainly COVID has taught us all that lesson. This moment is all there is in that we can’t change the past and we can’t control the future.

Age has brought me some amount of wisdom, though there is still plenty of opportunity to grow in that area. I’d love to give you all some sage advice, and yet my wisdom is more around the little things. Tell the people you love that you love them. Say it out loud and with meaning whenever you can. Have dessert. Seriously, always freakin’ have dessert. Life is way too short and fragile to not have dessert. Walk away from toxic people, from racist and bigoted people, from people who thrive on hate. You won’t change them. That’s their journey. Go find kind people to spend your time with. You’ll never regret it. Get a pet. Love your people and for goodness sake, have dessert!

Love,

Lisa Kaplin Psy. D. PCC